Ironer



June 1, 1948- A. M. RAsMUssEN 2,442,376

IRONER Filed may 8, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 L, i 50 32 (al. l,

flared# Patented June 1, 1948 UNITED IRONER b Anton M. Rasmussen, Rockford, IIL Application May 8, 1944, Serial No. 534,564

This invention relates toironers of the mangle type, and is more particularly concerned with improvements in the machine disclosed in my earlier Patent 1,627,747, issued May 10, 1927.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide improved facilities in a machine of the type mentioned, for creating a drawing eflect on the material being ironed and thus produce a glossy finish.

In accordancewith the present invention, an endless apron is provided, running over a plurality of padded rolls that are disposed kin circumferentially spaced relation with respect to the periphery of a larger ironing roll, and suitable gearing is provided for driving these padded rolls at a slower peripheral speed than the ironing rolls, so as to secure the relative movement between the ironing rolls and the apron, necessary to produce the glossy finish on the work. The gearing mentioned is manually controllable by a lever within convenient reach of the operator from her position in front of the machine, so that the drawing effect can be obtained whenever desired. as the pieces requiring a glossy finish happen to be picked up and fed through the machine.

In accordance with another feature of my invention, a slack take-up roll is provided between. the padded rolls on the yoke carrying these rolls, and is spring pressed so as to move in a direction to maintain the vapron under the desired tension when the padded rolls and apron are in operative relationship to the ironing rolls, and also keep the apron fairly taut when the yoke is moved by treadle pressure to retracted position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an end view of an ironer made in accordance with my invention, looking at the right end of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to a portion of 18 Claims. (Cl. 38-9) Fig. 1, -but showing the yoke in section and moved to retracted position with respect to the ironing roll, so as to illustrate more clearly the operation of the slack take-up roll;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 of the slack take-up roll;

Fig. 4 shows the drive gearing provided in the left end of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the left end of the machine with the housing broken away, so as to reveal the gearing shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section principally in the plane of the line 6--6 of Fig. 5. n,

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

connecting the end uprights. The ironing roll 9 of the open end type is supported at the left end on the left end upright 1, and, as pointed out in the earlier patent, the open end type roll'oifers many advantages over the closed end type and makes it possible to iron pieces that would otherwise be too wide for'the machine. The roll 9 is driven by a worm gear I0, suitably fixed to the journalled end of the roll, the gear I0 meshing with a worm II on the armature shaft I2 of an electric motor (not shown) that is supported preferably on a bracket onv the left,

end upright 1. A spur gear I3 issuitably fixed on the leftend of the ironing roll on the inner side of the end plate I4, and meshes with an idler gear I5 that is in constant mesh with the manually shiftable gear cluster I6. The latter comprises spur gears I1 and I8 of diierent radii, the larger gear Il being the one in constant mesh with the idler gear I5. The latter, as clearly appears in Fig. 5, is wide enough to permit disposition of the cluster I6 in the neutral position shown in full lines, between a pair of gears I9 and 20 iixed on the end of the shaft 2l, the cluster I6 being movable in either direction from neutral position, so as to mesh the gear I1 with the gear I9 or mesh the gear I8 with the gear 20. There is a hub 22 on the cluster I6, slidably supporting the cluster on the left end of the cross-shaft 23, and this hub has an annularly` grooved shaft collar 24 formed thereon for cooperation with the shifter fork 25 on the end of the shift lever 26. The latter is pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 21, on the end plate I4, and is adapted to be locked in adjusted position by engagement of the prong 28 thereon in either one of three spaced holes 29 in a keeper plate 30 that extends from the endplate I4.

There are three padded rolls 3i, 32 and 33 spaced 45 apart, relative `to the periphery of the ironing roll 9, the roll 33 being directly above the roll 9, and the other two being behind said roll. The roll 3| is on the shaft 2|' previously mentioned, and the rolls 32 and 33 are on shafts 34 and 35, respectively, and have gears 36 and 3l thereon in the same vertical plane with the gear 20A on the shaft 2l. Idler gears 38 and 39 between the three gears 20, 3B and 31 transmit drive between these gears, so as to cause the rolls 32 and 33 to turn in the same direction and at the same speed as the roll 3I. This is important in the present machine, because of the provision of an endless apron 40 that extends around and The machine shown in Fig. -1 is generally similar to that disclosed in the earlier patent, and has a frame composed of end uprights l on a base 3, and suitably braced by cross-members interruns on the rolls 3I-33, and is adapted to cooperate with the ironing roll 9 in the manner shown in Fig. 1, to feed work through the machine. The apron 40 is made of canvas or other suitable flexible fabric material, and is maintained under the desired tension by a slack takeup roll 4I, they opposite end portions 4 2 of which are in the form of reduced trunnions slidable in substantially radial slots 43 in the end walls 44 of the yoke 45, on which the rolls 3 I-33 are carried for movement toward and away from the ironing roll. Bearings 46 are in the form of plungers, slidable in cylinders 41 mounted on the end walls 44 of the yoke 45, and have coiled cornpression springs 48 encased therein, tending normally to move the roll 4I outwardly in relation to the ironing roll 9. so as to give the tensioning effect desired, so long as the rolls 3i-33, together with the apron 40. are in operative relation to the ironing roll 9 and also keep the apron 40 fairly taut in relation to the end rolls 3| and 33 when the yoke 45 is moved to the retracted position shown in Fig. 2.

In operation, the work is fed in over a' table 49 at the front of the machine, mounted on a bracket 50 supported on the left end upright 1. The work leaves the machine over a shelf 5I supported on brackets 52 on the right and left end uprights, the shelf extending beneath the ironing roll and having its inner end portion curved upwardly around the back of the roll, as indicated at 53, to provide a chute for guiding the work as it emerges from the lower end of the apron 4u forwardly over the shelf 5I. 'I'here is, therefore, no danger of the work becoming fouled with any part of the machine. The table 49 terminates in front of the point where the work enters, between the apron 40 and ironing roll 9. The treadle 54, which is pivoted at 55 on the lower portion of the frame of the machine, extends across the front of the machine, so as to be within easy reach of the operator at any time, and has a link 56 connected to the intermediate pivot 5l of a pair of toggle links 58 and 59. The link 58 is pivoted at 60 to a stationary part of the machine by the link 59, and has a pin-andslot connection at 6| with a yoke 52 that is pivotally connected at 63 to a rocker arm 64. The latter is arranged to oscillate the shaft 23 previously mentioned, which is supported in bearings on brackets 65 mounted on the uprights 1. A pair of arms 66 supports the yoke 45, and are arranged to rock with 'the arm B4 in the oscillation of the shaft 23. The link 59 is slidable within the yoke 62, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to the extent permitted by the lost motion connection 6I, and a compression spring 6l, acting between the yoke 62 and a shoulder on the link 59, yieldingly holds the parts in the relative position shown, and in the event anything unusually large is fed between-the rolls, as, for example, buckles or buttons, the yoke 45 is free to yield to the extent of the lost motion connection 6| thereof. The spring 61 normally keeps the apron 40 in proper contact with the ironing roll. A coiled tension spring or springs .68 serves to counterbalance the yoke 45 only to such an extent that a predetermined light pressure is maintained between the apron 40 and the ironing roll 9, and, due to the counterbalancing action of the spring or springs 68, only a very light foot pressure is required on the treadle 54 to elevate the yoke 45 to retracted position,'and these springs furthermore keep the yoke 45 in substantially oating relation to the ironing roll, so that it will yield sufficiently readily to prevent breakage of buttons and avoid `iamming of the machine. In the ironing of rough, heavy work, the operator ordinarily leaves the lever 26 in neutral position, so as to permit the apron 40 to run idly with the work, the work being fed through under these conditions. solely by the turning of the ironing roll.9. In the ironing of fiat work,

such as sheets and pillow slips. handkerchlefs, and the like, the lever 26 is moved to the operators right, so as to mesh the gear I1 with the gear I9, and under these conditions the apron 40 is positively driven at approximately the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll 9, whereby to insure smooth ironing of the work. On the other hand, where pieces require a glossy finish in the ironing thereof, the operator will throw the lever 26 to her left, so as to mesh the gear I8 with the gear 20. and accordingly reduce the peripheral speed of the apron 40 below that of the ironing roll 9 to a suicient extent to create a drawing effect on the material being ironed, and thus produce a glossy finish.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of all of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims were drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. In a ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of rolls in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll for feeding work in contact therewith, drive means interconnecting all of said rolls with a power source to turn at about the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, and other drive means for interconnecting all of said rolls with a power source to turn alike but at a lower peripheral speed when desired.

2. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of rolls in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll for feeding work in contact therewith, a single endless apron of flexible material extending around the group of rolls and having surface-to-surface contact with the ironing roll substantially the full length thereof, drive means interconnecting said rolls with a power source to turn at-about the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, and other drive means for interconnecting said rolls with a power source to turn alike but at a lower peripheral speed when desired.

3. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of feed rolls disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll to feed the work in contact therewith, a disconnectable gearing connection between the last feed roll and said ironing roll, and permanent idler gearing connections between the last feed roll and the other feed rolls for turning all of said feed rolls at about the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, and another disconnectable gearing connection between the last feed roll and said ironing roll, for turning all of the feed rolls alike but at a lower peripheral speed when desired.

4. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of feed rolls disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll to feed the work in contact therewith, a single endless apron of flexible material extending around the group of rolls and having surface-to-,surface contact with the ironing roll substantially the full length thereof, a disconnectable gearing connection between the last feed roll and said ironing roll, and permanent idler gearing connections between the last feed roll and the other feed rolls for turning said feed rolls at about the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, and another disconnectable gearing connection between the last feed roll and said ironing roll, for turning the feed rolls alike relation to the ironing roll to feed thework in contact therewith, idler gears permanently meshed with gears on the feed rolls to turn together at the same speed and in the same direction, another gear on' the last feed roll in axially spaced relation to the ilrstf drive gear thereon and of smaller diameter, and a. shiftable gear g relation to the ironing roll to feed the work in contact therewith, a single endless apron of flexible material extending around the group of rolls and having surface-to-surface contact with the ironing roll substantially the full length thereof, idler gears permanently meshed with gears on the feed rolls to turn together at the same speed and in the same direction, another gear on the last feed roll in axially spaced relation tothe first drive gear thereon and of smaller diameter, and

v a shiftable gear cluster continuously driven with the ironing roll and arranged to be meshed interchangeably with either of the drive gears on the last feed rolll `to turn all of the feed rollsat the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll or alike but at a lower peripheral speed, selectively,

7. In an ironer as set forth in claim 5, the provision of a hand lever carrying the shiftable gear cluster, and means for releasably holding said hand lever in a neutral position or in either engaged position.

8. In an ironer as set forth in claim 6, the provision of a hand lever carrying the shiftable gear cluster, and means for releasably holding said hand lever in a neutral position or in either engaged position. l

9. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of rolls carried in fixed space relation on a frame so as to be in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll for feeding work in contact therewith, said frame being movable toward and away from said ironing rol-l, a single endless apron of flexible material extending around the group of rolls and having surface-to-surface contact with the ironing roll substantially the full length thereof, a spring pressed tensioning roll cooperating with said apron to maintain the same under a predetermined tension in the operative position of the frame and take up slack in the apron when the frame is in retracted position, drive means interconnecting said rolls with a power source to turn at about the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, and other drive means for interconnecting said rolls with a power source to turn alike but at a lower peripheral speed when desired.

10. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality cf feed rolls carried in xed spaced relation on a frame so asttc be disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll to feed the work in contact therewith, said frame being movable toward and away from said ironing roll, a single endless apron of exible material extending around the group of' rolls and having surface-to-surface contact with the ironing roll substantially the full length thereof, a spring pressed tensioning roll cooperating with saidgapron to maintain the same under a predeterminedv tension in the operative position of the frame and take up slack in the apron when the frame is in l retracted position, a disconnectable gearing connection between the last feed roll and said ironlng roll, and permanent idler gearing connections between the last feed roll andthe 4other feedl rolls for turning all of said feed rolls atabout the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, andranother disconnectable vgearing connection between4 A the last feed roll and said ironing roll, for turning all ofl the feed rolls alike but at a lower peripheral speed whenv desired.

l1. In an ironer, an ironing roll, aplurality of feed rolls carried in fixed spaced relationon a frame so as to be disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll to feed the work in contact therewith,lsaid frame-being mov-- meshed with gears o n the feed rolls to turn together at the same speed and in the same direction, another gear on the last feed roll in axially spaced relation to the first drive gear thereon and of smaller diameter, and a shiftable gear cluster continuously driven with the ironing roll and arranged to be meshed interchangeably with either of the drive gears on the `-last feed roll, to turn all of the feed rolls at the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll or alike but at a lower peripheral speed, selectively.

12. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of rolls carried in xed spaced relation on a frame so as to be in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll for feeding work in contact therewith, said frame being movable toward and away from said ironing roll, a single endless apron of flexible material extending around the group of rolls and having surface-to-surface contact with the ironing roll substantially the full length thereof, a movable support for said feed rolls, whereby the same may be removed together out of operative relation to said ironing roll, a spring pressed tensioning roll on said movable support cooperating with said apron to maintain the same under a predetermined operating tension while the feed rolls are in operative relation to the ironing roll, and also maintain said apron taut and in contact with the feed rolls when the latter are removed from operative relation to the ironing roll upon movement of said frame to Yretracted position, drive means interconnecting said rolls with a power source to turn at about the same peripheral speed as the iron-l ing roll, and other drive means for interconnecting said rolls with a power source to turn alike but at a lower peripheral speed when desired.

13. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of feed rolls carried in fixed spaced relation on a frame so as to be disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll to feed work in contact therewith, said frame being movable toward and away from said ironing roll, a single endless apron of flexible material extending around the group of rolls and having surface-tosurface contact with the ironing roll substantially the full length thereof, a movable support for said feed rolls, whereby the same may be remove together out of operativerelation to said ironing roll, a spring pressed tensioning roll on said movable support cooperating with said apron to maintain the same under a predetermined operating tension while the feed rolls are in operative relation to the ironing roll, and also maintain said apron taut and in contact with the feed rolls when the latter are removed from operative relation to the ironing roll upon movement of said frame to retracted position, a disconnectable gearing connection between the last feed roll and said ironing roll, and permanent idler gearing connections between the last feed roll and the other feed rolls for turning said feed rolls at about the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, and another disconnectable gearing connection between the last feed roll and said ironing roll, for turning the feed rolls alike but at a lower peripheral speed when desired.

14. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of feed rolls carried in fixed spaced relation on a frame so as to be disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll to feed the work in contact therewith, said frame being movable toward and away from said ironing roll. a single endless apron of flexible material extending around the group of rolls and having surface-tosurface contact with the ironing roll substantially the full length thereof, a movable support for said f eed rolls, whereby the same may be removed together out of operative relation to said ironing roll, a spring pressed tensioning roll on said movable support cooperating with said apron to maintain the same under a predetermined operating tension while the feed rolls are in operative relation to the ironing roll, and also maintain said apron taut and in contact with the feed rolls when the latter are removed from operative relation to the ironing rol-l upon movement of said frame to retracted position, idler gears permanently meshed with gears on the feed rolls to turntogether at the same speed and in the same direction, another gear on the last feed roll, in axially spaced relation to the first drive gear thereon and of smaller diameter, and a shiftable gear cluster continuously driven with the ironing roll and arranged to be meshed interchangeably with either of the drive gears on the last feed roll, to turn the feed rolls at the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll or alike but at a lower peripheral speed, selectively.

15. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of feed rolls disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll to feed the work in contact therewith, idler gears permanently meshed with gears on the feed rolls to turn together at the same speed and in the same direction, another gear on the last feed rol-l in axially spaced relation to the first drive gear thereon and of smaller diameter, a wide idler gear continuously driven by a gear on the ironing roll, and a gear cluster slidably mounted for meshing engagement, selectively, with either of the drive gears on the last feed rol-1, and having constant slidable meshing engagement with the last mentioned idler gear, whereby to turn all of the feed rolls at about the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, or alike but at a lower peripheral speed when desired.

16. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of feed rolls disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll to feed the work in contact therewith, a single endless apron of ilexible material extending around the group of rolls and having surface-to-surface contact with the ironing roll substantially the full length thereof, idler gears permanently meshed with gears on the feed rolls to turn together at the same speed last feed roll in axially spaced relation to the first drive gear thereon and of smaller diameter, a wide idler gear continuously driven by a gear on the ironing roll, and a gear cluster slidably mounted for meshing engagement. selectively. with either of the drive gears on the last feed roll, and having constant slidable meshing engagement with the last mentioned idler gear, whereby to turn the feed rolls at about the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, or alike but at a lower peripheral speed when desired.

17. In an ironer, an ironing roll, a plurality of 'feed rolls disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll to feed the work in contact therewith, idler gears permanently meshed with gears on the feed rolls to turn together at the same speed and in the same direction, another gear on the last feed roll in axially spaced relation to the rst drive gear thereon and of smaller diameter, a wide idler gear continuously driven by a gear on the ironing roll, a gear cluster slidably mounted for meshing engagement, selectively, with either of the drive gears on the last feed roll, and having constant slidable 'meshing engagement with the last mentioned idler gear, whereby to turn all of the feed rolls at about the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, or alike but at a lower peripheral speed when desired, and a hand lever'carrying said shiftable gear cluster and movable from a neutral position in which the cluster is between the drive gears of the last feed roll, to either of two operative positions in which the cluster is meshed interchangeably with one of said drive gears.

18. In an ironer, a single relatively -large ironing roll, a plurality of relatively smallv rolls in circumferentially spaced relation to the ironing roll for feeding'work in contact therewith, a single endless apron of flexible material extending around the group of rolls and having surface-to-surface contact with the ironing roll substantially the full length thereof, drive means for transmitting drive to at least one end roll to turn the apron at substantially the same peripheral speed as the ironing roll, and other. drive means for transmitting drive to at least one end roll to turn the apron at a lower peripheral speed when desired.

ANTON M. RASMUSSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of thispatent2 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name i Date 262,491 Smith Aug. 8, 1882 815,642 Sears Mar. 20, 1906 1,178,759 Sorokin Apr. 11, 1916 1,485,857 Klausmeyer Mar. 4, 1927 1,627,747 Rasmussen May 10, 1927 4 1,651,599 Hoe Dec. 6, 1927 1,705,921 Hoe Mar. 19, 1929 1,941,131 Westwood Dec. 26, 1933 1,976,383 Boal' Oct. 9, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 454,224 Britain Sept. 22, 1936 

